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Mr Zaev has formed a majority coalition in the Macedonian parliament following recent elections, but has been unable to take power because president Gjorge Ivanov has vetoed it taking government.

The president, who is from the same party as ousted former prime minister Nikola Gruevsk, claims that the inclusion of MPs from an ethnic Albanian party makes the coalition a threat to the country’s sovereingty.

REUTERS

There have been protests in Macedonia against perceived EU 'meddling'

AFP

The current Macedonia government is being backed by the Kremlin

But Mr Zaev has dismissed the claims as “nonsense” and says the real reason the pair are clinging to power is to save themselves from criminal prosecution over their action in government.

Italian eurocrat Ms Mogherini visited Macedonia last Thursday, and Mr Zaev last night revealed she had “promised” him she would start EU membership talks if he can break the impasse.

During a speech whilst in the country, she said: “It would be impossible for anyone to convince anyone in the democratic world that a majority of MPs that represent the majority of citizens in a unitary state cannot be allowed to form a government.

"This breaks the spirit of democracy. This is inconsistent with basic democratic principles and with the Euro-Atlantic integration process.”

In contrast the current Macedonian government is being openly backed by Vladimir Putin, with the Kremlin accusing the EU of meddling in other countries’ politics.

EU Commission officials were today tight-lipped on Mr Zaev’s remarks, insisting that they would not comment on the private remarks of their officials.

Answering a question from a Macedonian journalist, spokeswoman Maja Kocijančič said: “The Commission recommendation to open negotiations with your country is conditional on the country’s implementing the provisional agreement and urgent reform priorities.

“Opening of accession negotiations when these conditions are met is a decision for the Council.”

Investigation: Albania is set to join the EU

Wed, June 22, 2016

Albania is an official candidate for accession to the European Union. We follow a Daily Express exclusive investigation about Albania, the poelple and the culture in pictures